Training 2025 Pre-season

[wolftone57]

I don't think our problems stem from fitness.
I think our side has the cattle but they don't play them in the right positions. Need more inside.
That is all pretty much that is needed.

We can't be getting to grand finals this many times on luck. The talent is there.

Just unleash Gus.

I don't agree. I think endurance has been an issue. We can't sustain pressure for long periods. We drop off. Suddenly, we are chasing. The program this preseason is all about endurance. There are different styles of fitness. Building mass, speed & endurance. The last is something I think may have been a little lighter in the last few years. Probably because the list was so young. But now our list has matured we are upping the endurance training

On Infinix X6525 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Millky95]

Highlight was seeing Rowy just side stepping Warner

 

[Callipygian]

I swung past training today. Despite the weather (windy, rainy) there were a few observers standing around, lurking under the trees next to Tramway Oval.

I don't have a lot to report. I wasn't there all that long. The parts I saw kept alternating between full-pitch match sim, running exercises, handball games (as seen in the Inside Sydney Episode 2) and some drills with kicking etc. They kept alternating between the footy/matchplay and the other fitness stuff, as opposed to doing all the running and drills and then turning to match sim etc. It looked like a fun mix for the players, albeit challenging.

Different players were on the sidelines for different amounts i.e. some players were running most of the time while the bulk were doing drills and match sim. Others were mostly with the main group but sometimes on the sidelines with the others on modified programs, and others were just with the main group the whole time. There are a few players that I don't remember seeing at all - but that doesn't mean they weren't there - I didn't do a head count except in my mind after I had left. Logan, Paton and Mitchell were some I don't recall seeing. Dattoli was on the sidelines not participating at all when I saw him. Hamling, Hanily, Campbell were among those mostly on the sidelines.

Wicks again appeared to be training with the backs. I wouldn't swear to it but in a brief glimpse it looked like to me that McCartin was playing as a forward. Snell was playing with the backs (not midfield). Also, looking at the Inside Sydney video I don't think he has the tank to play midfield even if he has put on the size to contest the ball.

Edwards told me he isn't yet doing full training but his body is all good and recovered from the broken fibula he copped in the last round last year. He looks massive. I don't think he'd be that easy to shift.

Buller seemed to be training normally which is good to see. Hope he gets a clear run at it this season.

Pretty sure Matty Lloyd was training with the group (wearing #46) and so I think it's safe to say he's been re-signed to play VFL this year. He looked like he was tiring compared to the full-time professionals (fair enough). Chamberlain and Carmichael from the Academy were there, with Colin O'Riordan on the sidelines keeping an eye on them (until he got too cold and had to return inside away from the weather).

I had a quick chat to Blake Leidler. I welcomed him to the club and said we need a lockdown small defender and he said that's the plan. I said "bit of competition this season though" (I had Wicks, Paton and Bice in mind) and he agreed emphatically.

A couple of players had to come from the training to the sidelines to get treatment on this or that while I was watching including Cleary, Gulden and Fox. Fox finished his training a little early, probably a bit sore with something.

The first year players weren't shining but the second year players looked like they have come on well (Cleary, Snell, Green).

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I swung past training today. Despite the weather (windy, rainy) there were a few observers standing around, lurking under the trees next to Tramway Oval.

I don't have a lot to report. I wasn't there all that long. The parts I saw kept alternating between full-pitch match sim, running exercises, handball games (as seen in the Inside Sydney Episode 2) and some drills with kicking etc. They kept alternating between the footy/matchplay and the other fitness stuff, as opposed to doing all the running and drills and then turning to match sim etc. It looked like a fun mix for the players, albeit challenging.

Different players were on the sidelines for different amounts i.e. some players were running most of the time while the bulk were doing drills and match sim. Others were mostly with the main group but sometimes on the sidelines with the others on modified programs, and others were just with the main group the whole time. There are a few players that I don't remember seeing at all - but that doesn't mean they weren't there - I didn't do a head count except in my mind after I had left. Logan, Paton and Mitchell were some I don't recall seeing. Dattoli was on the sidelines not participating at all when I saw him. Hamling, Hanily, Campbell were among those mostly on the sidelines.

Wicks again appeared to be training with the backs. I wouldn't swear to it but in a brief glimpse it looked like to me that McCartin was playing as a forward. Snell was playing with the backs (not midfield). Also, looking at the Inside Sydney video I don't think he has the tank to play midfield even if he has put on the size to contest the ball.

Edwards told me he isn't yet doing full training but his body is all good and recovered from the broken fibula he copped in the last round last year. He looks massive. I don't think he'd be that easy to shift.

Buller seemed to be training normally which is good to see. Hope he gets a clear run at it this season.

Pretty sure Matty Lloyd was training with the group (wearing #46) and so I think it's safe to say he's been re-signed to play VFL this year. He looked like he was tiring compared to the full-time professionals (fair enough). Chamberlain and Carmichael from the Academy were there, with Colin O'Riordan on the sidelines keeping an eye on them (until he got too cold and had to return inside away from the weather).

I had a quick chat to Blake Leidler. I welcomed him to the club and said we need a lockdown small defender and he said that's the plan. I said "bit of competition this season though" (I had Wicks, Paton and Bice in mind) and he agreed emphatically.

A couple of players had to come from the training to the sidelines to get treatment on this or that while I was watching including Cleary, Gulden and Fox. Fox finished his training a little early, probably a bit sore with something.

The first year players weren't shining but the second year players looked like they have come on well (Cleary, Snell, Green).

Great report - thank you!

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Definitely cooking them with tough sessions with the season still 2 months away.

Cox initiative or new fitness guy?

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Definitely cooking them with tough sessions with the season still 2 months away.

Cox initiative or new fitness guy?

Cox

 

[Neverwas]

Full marks to the media department. Great video.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Cox

Thats the thing i dont get about our group all these tough pre-seasons to just shit the bed over and over

 

[GreyGooseGuy88]

Is it just me or does ladhams look really active and mobile in the clips I've seen. He could be a huge improver in 2025 and provide us with a different look and feel vs LY

 

[caesar88]

I get that the back-to-back time trials are the main event of this video (and that was great to see!), but I personally loved the handball drill exercise where one group was trying to handball the pill from point A to point B, while the other group was trying to intercept. I actually got stressed out just watching it. Not sure anyone managed to avoid getting caught in a tackle or having their handball cut off in the air or on the ground at least once. A manic drill that I'm pleased we are doing. Our ability to create and prevent spread by hands hasn't been good enough since the JPK/Hanners era.

I also loved McInerney just coming in with the seemingly-unwarranted hip-and-shoulder on Cleary at that ball-up. Absolutely sent him flying LOL. Might've seemed unnecessary but I love to see that, from a now-mature player to a young kid learning the ropes.

 

[caesar88]

I've said this before, but I am constantly in awe of his controlled aggression. He's just never flustered. You would never know, watching that guy casually and calmly running around doing drills out there, that that's our hardest and most physically-manic player. Someone who plays in such a tough and aggressive way must surely have that aggression within them, that shows in other ways. Rowbottom doesn't seem to have any. He literally channels it all into the contest. Have never once seen him remonstrate with an opponent, argue with an umpire, berate a teammate, punch the turf in frustration, be involved in a melee, do a single dirty act, carry-on after a goal, etc.

Deadset freak.

 

[Jimbo OZ]

I get that the back-to-back time trials are the main event of this video (and that was great to see!), but I personally loved the handball drill exercise where one group was trying to handball the pill from point A to point B, while the other group was trying to intercept. I actually got stressed out just watching it. Not sure anyone managed to avoid getting caught in a tackle or having their handball cut off in the air or on the ground at least once. A manic drill that I'm pleased we are doing. Our ability to create and prevent spread by hands hasn't been good enough since the JPK/Hanners era.

I also loved McInerney just coming in with the seemingly-unwarranted hip-and-shoulder on Cleary at that ball-up. Absolutely sent him flying LOL. Might've seemed unnecessary but I love to see that, from a now-mature player to a young kid learning the ropes.

That handball drill would be very taxing too. No chance to recover. You are either bursting to create space or tackle or avoid being tackled or grappling and as soon as a “goal” is scored it goes again. 5 mins of that would hurt.

I am also loving this insight of the inside Sydney videos over the last couple of years. I do wonder what decisions are made about balancing IP - do we keep our drills and strategy internally or release it to fans and opposition?

 

[Callipygian]

That handball drill would be very taxing too. No chance to recover. You are either bursting to create space or tackle or avoid being tackled or grappling and as soon as a “goal” is scored it goes again. 5 mins of that would hurt.

I am also loving this insight of the inside Sydney videos over the last couple of years. I do wonder what decisions are made about balancing IP - do we keep our drills and strategy internally or release it to fans and opposition?

That was one of the drills they yesterday (maybe more than once). They didn't do it for more than 5 minutes and I think they were rotating about two players per side through a notional 'bench' on the sidelines. Also, in case it's not obvious, there are a reduced numbers (I'm not sure exactly how many but let's say 10 a side). It was especially the more senior players who were involved in this drill while the young 'uns were on the far side of the oval doing something else (I didn't take note what).

I didn't get a comprehensive view of what was happening because I took the opportunity to chat to a few people and I also had to keep checking to make sure I wasn't getting booked for parking on the special event clearway that had been set up on Driver Avenue to cater for the cricket match in the evening and so I only had one eye on the training: hence my somewhat sketchy report.

 

[SGBeach]

I've said this before, but I am constantly in awe of his controlled aggression. He's just never flustered. You would never know, watching that guy casually and calmly running around doing drills out there, that that's our hardest and most physically-manic player. Someone who plays in such a tough and aggressive way must surely have that aggression within them, that shows in other ways. Rowbottom doesn't seem to have any. He literally channels it all into the contest. Have never once seen him remonstrate with an opponent, argue with an umpire, berate a teammate, punch the turf in frustration, be involved in a melee, do a single dirty act, carry-on after a goal, etc.

Deadset freak.

Why did you want to trade him at the end of his 3rd or 4th year? Ho would have returned bugger all in draft picks, and we had just traded out Hewett

 

[Bonz]

Thats the thing i dont get about our group all these tough pre-seasons to just shit the bed over and over

You can train all you want, game day is an entirely different.

I was doing drill work and bout practice 6 hours a week and nearly 10 hours strength/ agility/ fitness training. Trained in Europe for 2 weeks in the lead up. But the moment I competed in the world cup I got nervous and completely tightened up.

The pressure is something else at the highest levels, let alone a grand final with 100,000 people watching.

 

[caesar88]

That handball drill would be very taxing too. No chance to recover. You are either bursting to create space or tackle or avoid being tackled or grappling and as soon as a “goal” is scored it goes again. 5 mins of that would hurt.

I am also loving this insight of the inside Sydney videos over the last couple of years. I do wonder what decisions are made about balancing IP - do we keep our drills and strategy internally or release it to fans and opposition?

My guess, without being privy to our media department's meetings, is that they probably show the 'generic' drills that most, if not all, the other clubs are doing as well, and keep the customised drills based around our specific personnel in-house.

If that is the case then I don't mind that at all. Take the handball drill in question. I don't think there's anything particularly unique or groundbreaking about it. I expect 17 other clubs are doing a similar sort of drill with their players over the summer. But we don't have their players, we have our players, so it's still cool to get an insight into how our players handle it.

My favourite was Lloyd just saying "**** this drill" and just bursting through everyone in one go to get the ball out the other side LOL

 

[Punts]

Problems if Lloyd is in the best players game day in 22

Think he will struggle this year under cox imo

That’s if he wants blokes that can actually defend one on one

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Problems if Lloyd is in the best players game day in 22

Think he will struggle this year under cox imo

That’s if he wants blokes that can actually defend one on one

Maybe.

I reckon Cox is after “hard at it” players: hard at contest as well as hard runners (see the focus on endurance in training).

I’ve generally thought of Lloyd as someone who lifts more than most in our team under finals intensity, and he is one of our hardest runners. Agree 100% that Lloyd is not a contested possession winner, but he is probably the best player in our team at retain possession when under pressure, along with Mills perhaps.

For me, he plays third string winger (after Gulden and Jmac) and is ready to swing back if our midfield / talls are being mauled and we need to try to get the ball out safely. Every clanger saved is an opposition scoring opportunity avoided.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I reckon of everyone who was a regular starter under Longmire, Warner will have the toughest time. Of course he will remain a regular starter, but I think he will struggle to bring enough contested ball winning to remain a regular mid (one quarter of output per game is not enough) and the defensive ask of him in the forward line will also lift. He got to be a special star under Longmire, he will be more cog under Cox.

And I reckon Rowbottom will be the player who flourishes the most. He will no longer need the pick up the slack of others (at least as much), and I actually really rate his decision making and ball use. By end of last season I felt very comfortable with him entering 50, and he knows how to score an important goal (a captain’s goal even, if you will - make it happen Coxy).

And Mills will dominate the competition next year (hopefully with Heeney also continuing in his way). Mills looks absolutely primed and hungrier than anyone (great time trials apparently). He will take off and not look back. Just don’t get injured, you bugger!

 

[Punts]

Maybe.

I reckon Cox is after “hard at it” players: hard at contest as well as hard runners (see the focus on endurance in training).

I’ve generally thought of Lloyd as someone who lifts more than most in our team under finals intensity, and he is one of our hardest runners. Agree 100% that Lloyd is not a contested possession winner, but he is probably the best player in our team at retain possession when under pressure, along with Mills perhaps.

For me, he plays third string winger (after Gulden and Jmac) and is ready to swing back if our midfield / talls are being mauled and we need to try to get the ball out safely. Every clanger saved is an opposition scoring opportunity avoided.

Don’t agree with the lift part , imo Lloyd in all his GF has done the disappearing act. Don’t rate the bloke one on one , went to absolute water last year once again defending

 

[caesar88]

Problems if Lloyd is in the best players game day in 22

Think he will struggle this year under cox imo

That’s if he wants blokes that can actually defend one on one

If Lloyd's playing the same role as last year, more of a third wingman alongside Gulden & McInerney, then defending one on one shouldn't really be what he is judged on, compared to, say, Roberts or Cunningham or Florent or Blakey, guys whose main role is actually to play in defence.

 

[hairy biker]

I reckon of everyone who was a regular starter under Longmire, Warner will have the toughest time. Of course he will remain a regular starter, but I think he will struggle to bring enough contested ball winning to remain a regular mid (one quarter of output per game is not enough) and the defensive ask of him in the forward line will also lift. He got to be a special star under Longmire, he will be more cog under Cox.

And I reckon Rowbottom will be the player who flourishes the most. He will no longer need the pick up the slack of others (at least as much), and I actually really rate his decision making and ball use. By end of last season I felt very comfortable with him entering 50, and he knows how to score an important goal (a captain’s goal even, if you will - make it happen Coxy).

And Mills will dominate the competition next year (hopefully with Heeney also continuing in his way). Mills looks absolutely primed and hungrier than anyone (great time trials apparently). He will take off and not look back. Just don’t get injured, you bugger!

I'm an unabashed Chad fan and recognise the important traits that Rowbottom brings to the team, but I struggle with your interpretation RedBloodBlackSwan.

Firstly Rowbottom kicked 7 goals for the season,Warner 35.
Irrespective of Rowie's ability 'to score an important goal' I'm giving Warner the points in that duel.

There also seems to have developed a narrative that Warner couldn't win a contested ball if his life depended upon it, whereas Rowbottom is a contested ball king.
2024 Rowie averaged 10.2 Contested Possessions per game, Chad 8.5.
Hardly a chasm.

Rowbottom averaged 5 clearances per game, Warner 4.
Again not a huge difference.

Rowie certainly took the tackle count 7.8 per game compared to 3.2.

But Chad's ability to break from congestion and run and carry resulted in over 200 more metres gained per match (464 to 254).

Stick Chad up fwd and you lose that ball carrying ability to a significant degree.

TBH I'd prefer a starting midfield 3 of Heeney, Mills and Warner, rather than Rowbottom in there.
Mills can take the Rowbottom role, not sure anyone can take Chad's role. Rowbottom would obviously roll through the midfield during the game.
Also of course the midfield will include Grundy, our leading contested possession player for the season (12 per game) and 3rd for clearances (5 per game).

Chad offers a point of difference.

If people want to look at a comparison of Chad and Rowie for 2024 it's here;

Chad Warner and James Rowbottom AFL Stats Comparison

Chad Warner and James Rowbottom AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Just lastly I seem to be going around in circles as Rowbottom becomes the chosen one, whereas Warner is now perceived by some as a freewheeling one qtr per game player.

TBH I'll leave the Rowbottom/Chad debate there and wait to see what happens in the season ahead, but just to put it on record (although people have probably figured it out ) I'm team Chad.

 

[caesar88]

I reckon of everyone who was a regular starter under Longmire, Warner will have the toughest time. Of course he will remain a regular starter, but I think he will struggle to bring enough contested ball winning to remain a regular mid (one quarter of output per game is not enough) and the defensive ask of him in the forward line will also lift. He got to be a special star under Longmire, he will be more cog under Cox.

And I reckon Rowbottom will be the player who flourishes the most. He will no longer need the pick up the slack of others (at least as much), and I actually really rate his decision making and ball use. By end of last season I felt very comfortable with him entering 50, and he knows how to score an important goal (a captain’s goal even, if you will - make it happen Coxy).

And Mills will dominate the competition next year (hopefully with Heeney also continuing in his way). Mills looks absolutely primed and hungrier than anyone (great time trials apparently). He will take off and not look back. Just don’t get injured, you bugger!

This would all be great in theory, but we just don't know what Cox will do or how he will see it. He's identified our problems in contested ball & forward pressure, but it's not like Horse hadn't identified those same problems. The behind-the-scenes vision of a few of the games from last year show him literally shouting those aspects at the players. He just seemingly couldn't make the hard calls at selection that were needed to solve them. There's no guarantee Cox will be able to, either.